John d



(No Model.)

J. D. GRIFFEN. SHOE FASTENING.

No. 440,807. Patented Nov 18,1890.

WITNESSES "rm: Noam: rnzns '20., PnoYo-uwa, WASNINGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES ATENT- OFFICE."

JOHN D. GRI FFEN, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

SHOE-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,807, dated November 18, 1890. 7 Application fil d June 23,1890. Serial No. 356,390. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. GRIFFEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York,

Gloves, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of fastenings for shoes, corsets, gloves, &c., in which the opposite parts of the article to be fastened are drawn together by a single string, said string being fastened at one end and passing througha series of eyes, for example, as illustrated in my pending application, Serial No. 347,932, filed April 15, 1890, my present invention having for its object to still further improve the style of fastening and to provide a means of securing the opposite parts of the article after they are drawn together,

which shall combine all the advantages of a double-string fastening with the advantages of a single-string fastening. With this end in view I have devised the simple and novel construction of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, numerals being used to denote the several parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a shoe embodying my improved fastening, the string being drawn up ready for tying. Fig. 2 shows in side and rear end elevation one of the holders or plates for the lacing-string and the tyingstring; and Fig. 3 is a View illustrating a modified form of holder for the lacing-string in use, the shoe being broken away.

I have deemed it sufficient for the purposes of this specification to show the application of my invention to a shoe only, it being of course apparent that this fastening device is equally applicable to corsets, gloves, and other articles of apparel, the essential features being a single lacing-string adapted to pass through a series of eyes on the opposite parts of the article, arranged either in pairs or equidistant, by which the parts are drawn together, and a tying-string operating in connection therewith.

1 denotes the parts or flaps of the article to t be fastened; 2, thelacing-string; 3, the tyingstring; 4, holders or plates by which the lacing-string and the tying-string are detachably secured to the art' :le, and 5 eyes, ordinarily arranged in pairs on the opposite parts, so that the eye on one part will just pass over the eye on the other part, thereby drawing the two parts evenly and closely together, depending upon the amount of power applied in drawing the lacin -string, it being quite v practicable to draw the parts so close together that the lacing string will be practically straight, as shown in the drawings. The holders for the strings and the eyes through which the lacing-string is threaded may be secured to the shoe in any suitable or preferred manner, the manner in which they are secured not being of the essence of my invention. I preferably form them from sheet metal and provide them with prongs 6, by which they may be secured to the shoe. Any other sim ple means of securing them-for example, eyelets, as shown in Fig. 3-may be used, if preferred.

The blanks from which holders for the lacing-strings of the style shown in Fig. 1 are formed are preferably made wider at their forward ends, and are turned over backward and closed down at the sides, so as to form sockets 7, into which knots 8 at the ends of the lacing and tying strings are drawn, the strings being passed through holes at the inner ends of the sockets. I thus provide a neat and simple means of attaching both strings to the article, which at the same time permits the ready detachment of either string should it become broken in use and the attachment of another string.

The holder for the lacing-string may either be attached to the shoe at the same place and in the same manner as in my said former application referred to, and as shown in Fig. 1, or, if preferred, the holder may be made substantially as shown in Fig. 3, the socket being at the center and the two ends of the blank from which it is formed extending across the opening between the parts of the article, and being connected to both parts, either by prongs, as in Fig. 1, or by eyelets, as in Fig. 3. At the top of one of the partsthe opposite part from the one carrying the upper eye-I preferably place a hook 9, around which the lacing-string is passed, so that strain upon the 1acing-string will act to draw the parts together, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The tying-string is attached to the other part by a holder 4, directly opposite to hook 9. This string is not used in lacing at all, and is simply required to be long enough to give whatever amount of string may be required in forming a bow-knot with the free end of the lacing-string. I thus avoid the objections to the double-lacing system now in common use and at the same time give any amount of looseness that may be required and avoid the unpleasant feature in the case of shoes of carrying the lacing-string around the ankle. The length of the lacing-string is sufficient in case of shoes so that the flaps may be spread apart far enough to make it convenient to put them on or remove them without unthreading the lacing-string from the upper eye. When the wearer puts on the shoe or other article, it is simply necessary to pull upon the lacing-string until the parts are drawn as closely together as maybe required, pass the lacing-string around book 9, and

then tie the lacing-string and tying-string together in the same manner that is customary with the ordinary double-lacing fastening. In removing the article the wearer unties the knot in the usual way, releases the lacing-string from hook 9, and simply opens out the parts, the lacing-string sliding freely through the eyes sufficiently to allow the parts to spread as far as may be required.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A fastening for shoes, gloves, &c., consisting of a fixed holder, a lacing-string secured thereto, eyes on the opposite parts through which the lacing-string passes, a hook on the opposite part above the upper eye, and opposite to the hook another fixed holder and a tying-string secured thereto, so that the article to be fastened may be tied in the ordinary manner.

2. The combination, with the parts 1 of an article having lacing-eyes thereon, of a socketed holder attached centrally below the lacing-eyes, a lacing-string secured in the socket and passing through the eyes, a hook on one part at the upper edge and on the other part a similarly-socketed holder, and a tying-string secured in the socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. GRIFFEN.

Witnesses:

ELSTON H. MoFFETr, WM. A. MAXWELL. 

